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tbc Life of the Community, Staff, Worship & Fellowship

Judy Fiske Retirement Transition – Congregational Q&A

A Word of Gratitude and Grace

This is a sacred season in the life of our church—one filled with gratitude, memory, and the faithful work of transition. While we have walked with others through retirement before, we have never experienced a transition quite like this—Judy Fiske retiring after 45 years of continuous ministry within the life of Tabernacle. That reality calls for deep care, deliberate attention, and shared grace.

First and foremost, we are grateful for Judy—for her decades of faithful, life-giving ministry, and for the humility and strength with which she is walking this transition. We also extend our deep gratitude to Judy’s family, who have walked alongside her and made sacrifices so that she could serve, lead, and thrive in ministry here for so many years.

We are also deeply thankful for the staff, the Personnel Committee, the Deacons, the many individuals who serve within the music ministry, and the countless others who have helped guide this process in quiet, faithful ways. And we are grateful for you—the congregation—for your flexibility, support, and commitment to this community.

Let’s continue to move forward in trust—trust in God, trust in one another, and trust in the unfolding future that awaits us. This is a moment to listen well, to show up generously, and to extend the same grace we’ve received. Together, we make the road by walking—and we do so as a people shaped by love, memory, and hope.

When Will Judy Retire from Staff?

Judy’s final day as a staff member will be Sunday, June 15. That morning, we will gather for worship as usual, followed by a church-wide celebration and reception in recognition of her 45 years of ministry.

We are indebted to Terry and Nathan, along with others, for their leadership in planning this celebration on behalf of the congregation.

After June 15, Judy’s staff email and Basecamp account will be deactivated as part of a healthy and respectful staff transition. We encourage you to remain in touch by using her personal email or phone number.

Why Is Judy Stepping Away This Summer, and What Will Her Reentry into Church Life Look Like?

With Judy’s staff role concluding on June 15, we have committed together to a 90-day period of intentional space (June 15–September 15). During this time, Judy will step back from participating in worship, attending church events, and engaging in the structured rhythms of church life.

This decision wasn’t made lightly. It reflects a shared desire—for Judy, for staff and church leaders, and for the congregation—to move through this transition with intention and grace. After 45 years of faithful, life-giving, and deeply rooted ministry, Judy’s role has become inseparable from the day-to-day fabric of Tabernacle. This pause is a necessary invitation to everyone involved—to acknowledge what has been, and to begin making room for what’s next.

Rather than trying to hold onto familiar patterns, we’re choosing to create space. This gives Judy a chance to breathe, reflect, and rest. It also allows the staff and church leaders to settle into new rhythms, and the congregation to begin embracing this significant shift in identity and practice.

Importantly, stepping back from church life does not mean stepping back from friendship and community. Judy has been part of this congregation for decades, and many of her closest relationships are with people in this church. It’s entirely natural—and welcomed—that she may continue connecting personally with friends over the summer. She is also looking forward to some well-earned freedom and rest—worshiping with her husband, Eric, at First English Lutheran Church, spending time worshipping with other friends throughout Richmond, and simply having the ability to choose how to spend a Sunday morning—something she hasn’t had in all of her adult life.

While Judy will not be participating in worship or formal church life over the summer, she will have access to the building and the organ for private practice. This access supports her ongoing musicianship and respects the deep connection she holds with the instrument. These moments will be personal and not connected to any public or staff responsibilities. They are also in keeping with the spirit of the 90-day period of intentional space.

In September, Judy will reenter church life first as a fellow worshiper—taking her place in the pews and worshiping alongside others. From there, she and church leaders will thoughtfully discern what further involvement might look like, including musical leadership or service in new ways.

There may also be rare and meaningful moments during the summer—such as baptisms or ordinations—where Judy’s presence may feel appropriate and welcomed. Any such invitations will be approached with great care and in full alignment with the spirit of this transition.

Key points:

  • Judy will not participate in worship, events, or structured service roles during the summer (June 15–Sept 15).
  • The 90-day period is a deliberate pause that honors both the depth of her ministry and the need for healthy transition.
  • This pause does not exclude personal connection—Judy may continue informal time with friends in the congregation.
  • She looks forward to worshiping with Eric at First English Lutheran, connecting and worshipping with friends around Richmond, and simply having the freedom to choose how to spend a Sunday.
  • In the fall, Judy will return first as a fellow worshiper; additional involvement will emerge through shared discernment.

What Does the Title ‘Organist Emerita’ Mean, and Will Judy Play the Organ Again?

The Deacons have unanimously affirmed the decision to honor Judy with the title Organist Emerita, a permanent and honorary designation offered in deep gratitude for her 45 years of faithful, creative, and spiritually grounded leadership. The title reflects the congregation’s enduring appreciation for the role Judy has played in shaping the worship life of Tabernacle Baptist Church.

This is not a staff position and does not carry expectations related to responsibilities, compensation, or weekly participation. Rather, it is a visible and lasting tribute to Judy’s legacy and continued presence within the church community.

The Deacons will formally present this honor on behalf of the congregation during the worship service or luncheon on June 15. Judy’s name and honorary title will also appear in places where staff names are typically listed—such as the church bulletin, website, and other communications—as an ongoing public expression of appreciation.

Looking ahead, Judy and church leaders will enter into a mutual dialogue this fall about the possibility of her serving in a part-time or contractual organist role. That conversation will unfold with care and clarity, shaped by the needs of the congregation and Judy’s own sense of calling. It is important to note that Judy will first return in the fall simply as a fellow worshiper, reentering church life gently and without expectations.

Key points:

  • The Deacons have unanimously approved honoring Judy as Organist Emerita.
  • The title is permanent and honorary, not a continuation of staff responsibilities.
  • It will be formally presented during the worship service or luncheon on June 15.
  • Judy’s title will appear in the church bulletin, website, and other formal communications.
  • A mutual dialogue between Judy and church leaders will begin this fall regarding any future organist role.
  • Judy will first return to church life as a fellow worshiper, without formal responsibilities.

Who Will Plan Worship and Lead Music Following Judy’s Retirement?

Beginning June 16, Pastor Sterling Severns will take primary responsibility for worship planning, at the request of the Deacons. He will work in collaboration with a team of staff and congregants to shape meaningful, theologically grounded worship for the months ahead.

Judy will no longer be involved in worship planning after June 15. Her contributions in this area have shaped the spiritual life of Tabernacle in lasting ways. We are deeply grateful for her years of pastoral musicianship and faithful preparation.

The worship team recognizes that this next chapter is one of discernment and adaptability. While the organ will not be used every Sunday, it will continue to be a valued part of our worship life—used less frequently in the summer, and more regularly in the fall.

The church is also exploring the possibility of contracted musicians to support worship. These conversations are ongoing and are rooted in care for spiritual depth, relational health, and financial sustainability.

Key points:

  • Sterling Severns will lead worship planning, in collaboration with staff and congregants.
  • Judy will no longer plan worship after June 15.
  • Worship will continue to grow through creativity, prayer, and shared leadership.
  • Organ music will remain a part of our worship life—less frequent in summer, more regular in fall.
  • The use of contracted musicians will require thoughtful review.

What Is Judy Focused on During Her Final Month on Staff?

In this final month, Judy is focusing on the significant and necessary task of preparing her materials for transition. After decades of ministry, she has gathered a substantial collection of worship resources, books, music, and discipleship materials. These have long supported the life of the church.

  • A staging space in the former youth room is being used to sort these items. Organ music is being moved into a set of filing cabinets near the choir loft. Several spaces are being cleared so they can be cleaned and refreshed, including:
  • The choir loft
  • The front pews of the sanctuary
  • Judy’s office
  • The former music library, which the youth will begin using as their meeting space in June
  • In the choir room, Judy’s personal items will be moved to the staging room prior to departure, while materials that are already organized—such as those under the risers and on the bookshelves—will remain in place and be reviewed at a later time as part of the church’s broader facilities discernment process.
  • Other small storage areas throughout the building
  • Seeing familiar spaces cleared out offers an emotional and visual cue—reminding us that Judy’s transition is real and significant. This makes room for gentler expectations around her return and helps us all move forward with grace.
  • All clearing and organizing that needs to happen before Judy’s departure will take place between now and June 15. This includes removing materials from several key spaces and relocating items into the staging room. Once Judy retires from staff, she will not continue this work over the summer. The contents of the staging room and remaining materials in the choir room will be left as they are until after the 90-day period of intentional space, at which point Judy will resume sorting and decision-making in those areas—beginning after September 15.

Key points:

  • Judy is sorting worship, music, and discipleship materials in preparation for retirement.
  • A staging room is being used; organ music is moving to filing cabinets.
  • Several church spaces are being cleared to support this transition.
  • In the choir room, personal items will be addressed; other organized materials may remain.
  • The work of gathering and placing items in the staging room will be completed by June 15.
  • Judy will not work on this during the summer, but will resume after Sept. 15.
  • Volunteers are needed—with and under Judy’s guidance.

What Is Judy’s Role in Music Camp or Clue Camp This Year?

As part of her transition, Judy will not be attending Music and Worship Arts Camp at Eagle Eyrie or Clue Camp in New York City this summer.  She has offered some behind-the-scenes support for Music Camp, including supplies and encouragement.

We’re grateful for the many members of the congregation who are stepping into leadership and helping continue these important ministries.

Key points:

  • Judy is not attending Music Camp or Clue Camp this summer.
  • She has offered behind-the-scenes support for Music Camp.
  • We’re grateful to those leading and continuing these ministries.

How Can I Help During This Transition?

There are many ways you can support Judy, the staff, and the church during this important season. With a great deal to do in the next month, your help is both needed and deeply appreciated.

Here are a few meaningful ways to get involved:

  • Volunteer to help move and organize music, books, and personal items before June 15.
  • Let Nathan and Terry know if you’re available to help with the June 15 retirement celebration.
  • Offer encouragement to Judy and others walking closely with her during this transition.
  • Pray for wisdom, tenderness, and spiritual clarity for all involved.
  • Be present on June 15 as we celebrate and give thanks together.
  • Hold space for one another—this is a tender time, and your grace matters.
Sterling Severns Building for Hope, Life of the Community, Staff

Building for Hope: A Bold Step, A Shared Journey

Tabernacle is one of just thirteen churches nationwide invited to participate in Building for Hope, a two-year, grant-funded initiative designed to help congregations reimagine how their buildings and land can better serve their communities—and, in doing so, help sustain the mission of the church.

This isn’t a side project. It’s a purposeful process that invites the congregation to explore how we might use our space more fully for the common good, while also building a more sustainable financial future for our ministry.

Rooted in faithful economic practice, this work centers on social enterprise—a mission-led approach to using what we’ve been given (our space, our location, our creativity) to meet real community needs while generating income to support long-term ministry. Social enterprises aren’t about profit—they’re about purpose. Churches across the country are doing things like:

  • Turning unused classrooms into art studios and business incubators
  • Offering coworking spaces and after-school programs
  • Inviting food entrepreneurs to use commercial kitchens
  • Developing affordable housing on church property
  • Partnering with nonprofits to create gardens, clinics, or community spaces

In all cases, the mission leads. Any project we pursue must reflect our calling to love, serve, and seek justice.

Where We Are Now

This past week, two of our team members—Sterling Severns and Ryan Corbitt—joined cohort representatives from twelve other congregations for a national Zoom call to share updates and learn from one another. In just a few weeks, three members of our team will attend the second offsite cohort gathering in Alexandria (May 15–17), returning with new insights and energy for the next phase of our journey.

Before that, the full Tabernacle team will gather on Tuesday, May 13 to complete Session 3 of the Good Futures Accelerator. This session, titled Community and Context, centers on listening: to our neighbors, to our history, and to where God might already be at work. We’ve also partnered with the BGAV to launch a demographic study that will help us better understand the people who live around us—and how we might come alongside their gifts and needs.

Who’s Involved?

Our current team includes: Ryan Corbitt, Jay Hartman, Donna Soyars, Kathy McGraw, Sterling Severns, and April Kennedy. A few others have recently expressed interest in joining the team, and we anticipate welcoming additional members in the coming weeks.

This is an active working team, guiding the process and helping shape how and when the broader congregation is engaged. Importantly, the team does not make final decisions on behalf of the church—it stewards the process, creating space for all of us to listen, discern, and imagine together.

We also want to share a leadership update: Donna Soyars, one of our three coordinating leaders, is stepping back from that coordinating role to focus more fully on her responsibilities as Chair of Building & Grounds. She remains a committed and active team member, and we are deeply grateful for her wisdom and dedication. In the coming weeks, a new team coordinator will step into that role alongside Ryan and Sterling.

What’s Next?

We anticipate hosting the first churchwide gathering in early June, opening the process to broader congregational conversation, input, and imagination. These sessions will continue throughout the year and will be essential in helping us discern what expressions of social enterprise might take shape at Tabernacle.

This isn’t about fixing a problem. It’s about following God’s Spirit into what’s possible—rooted in our story, shaped by our neighbors, and open to where hope leads.

Let’s keep listening.
Let’s dream together.
Let’s build for hope.

April Kennedy Abundant Community, Life of the Community, Staff

Remembering: Seeing Sacred in the Ordinary

Saturday morning, around the breakfast table, I sat with a neighbor and told stories about someone we both knew. He was a man full of beauty and struggle. He had lived without stable housing for a long time, survived being hit by a car, experienced seasons of healing, and even more seasons of deep hardship.

The neighbor spoke with tenderness, telling stories of care and connection. Their bond was so strong that on occasion she would go out in the middle of the night to check on him, and other times gave rides, or brought food.  She showed up with love and compassion, over and over again, even caring for his family after his death.

I shared how our relationship with him at Tabernacle had also shaped us. During the pandemic, it was his presence that compelled us to open the showers to neighbors—even when the rest of the building remained closed. I still hear his voice in my mind, surprised when someone called him by name: “You know my name!” Such a simple, sacred moment. And finally, I told the neighbor about his last morning. He took a hot shower, pulled on a pair of corduroy pants he had asked for, and with the biggest smile, said he felt like a new man. Later that week, I stood with his family on the sidewalk of Meadow Street, and we mourned together.

As we remembered, I realized how holy it all was. The care offered through car rides, kitchen tables and church showers, the calls made in the middle of the night, the love shared between neighbors—these are glimpses of the kingdom of God. This remembering reminds me that kingdom work isn’t confined to institutions. It’s found in the ordinary, sacred moments of life.

I am a different person because I knew him. I caught a glimpse of Jesus in him. And I believe the neighbor would say the same. 

Who is someone whose presence—however brief or complicated—has helped you have a glimpse of Jesus?

God of sacred moments,

Help us see you—

in our neighbors, in shared stories,

in acts of care.

Help us to not miss the holiness

hidden in the ordinary.

Amen.

April Kennedy
Minister of Abundant Community

communications Building and Grounds

B&G Update: Atrium Project

4/16/2025

Atrium Roof Replacement Progress Report

Our atrium roof replacement work has begun!!  The crew has already identified the leak that was causing moisture damage in the parlor bathroom and have patched that leak.  We are off to a good start!

We ask that you keep praying for the atrium roofing project, praying specifically to keep everyone doing this work safe.  

Notes to consider:

  • The scaffolding has been installed in a way that allows entry into the building through the alley entrance and access to the elevator.
  • Signs and cones will be in place for safety purposes.
  • The scaffolding will be locked when the construction crew is not on site to prevent children and other potential daredevils from trying to climb the scaffolding.
  • There will be no roofing work done on Friday, April 18th or Saturday, April 19th to avoid any interruption with our Community Ministry efforts and Easter weekend activities.
  • There could be a day or so of work sometime over the next few weeks when the atrium is not accessible.  You will be notified in advance when that situation arises.
  • We do not know how long the roofing work will take.  We have advised the construction company not to worry about the length of the project–we are more concerned about taking time to get it right.  Your patience and understanding are appreciated.

Direct your questions to Patrick Braford, Vincent Sallie or Donna Soyars.  Patrick is our project manager, so please be sure he is aware of any concerns you may have.

April Kennedy Abundant Community, Devotional, Life of the Community

A Symphony of Welcome

Hearing the Beauty of Christ in Community

The doors swing open, and the sound swells.

Stop and listen.

This is a holy moment.

It’s the loudest part of Saturday morning’s Community Ministry—neighbors talking to neighbors, greetings at the door, warm hellos at the welcome desk. It’s not just noise; it’s a symphony.

Voices rise in layers—excited tones, weary tones, grateful tones—each one distinct, yet somehow blending into a beautiful harmony. In those opening minutes, the room fills with a kind of music that reminds us: we belong to one another.

It’s a moment that helps us see more clearly—each person not as another in need, but as someone beloved. It inspires us to extend that welcome even further, to be the kind of community where everyone feels seen, known, and loved.

We were made with bodies that sense—eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, tongues to taste, noses to smell. When we have been sitting at Jesus’ feet, like Mary, growing close to him, those everyday senses become sacred instruments. We hear the sounds of the morning becoming the voice of Christ saying again and again, “You are loved. You belong. You are not alone.” We see his presence in the faces of our neighbors. We taste communion in the food and fellowship we share with each other and with Jesus. As we learn to sit close to Christ, we recognize the transformation of the ordinary into holy.

Stop and listen.

Do you hear the symphony?

April Kennedy
Minister of Abundant Community

tbc Life of the Community

Holy Week at Tabernacle Baptist Church

April 17–20, 2025

This Holy Week, we continue listening deeply, reflecting honestly, and walking together through the sacred story at the heart of our faith. One of the great gifts this year is the opportunity to reconnect with our longtime friends at Pine Street Baptist Church — a congregation with whom we’ve shared more than a century of mission, prayer, and mutual encouragement. This moment of reconnection feels holy, and we’re grateful to walk this stretch of the journey side-by-side once again.

Please Note: The Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services were originally publicized as starting at 6:30 PM. Both will now begin at 6:00 PM.

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 17 @ 6:00 PM
Location: Pine Street Baptist Church
400 South Pine Street, Richmond, VA 23220
(Service will last approximately 1.5 hours)

Maundy Thursday invites us into the tender and intimate moments of Jesus’ final night with his disciples, as found in John 13. It’s a night marked by table fellowship, foot washing, and Jesus’ command: “Love one another, just as I have loved you.”

We will begin the evening together in the Sanctuary at Pine Street Baptist Church, then transition into their Fellowship Hall, where we’ll gather around tables for guided conversation, a light meal of hummus, bread, carrots, and fruit, and a time of communion. Through shared space and reflective practice, we’ll explore what it means to love one another in the way Jesus has loved us — sacrificially, humbly, and fully.

Parking is available in the church lot or on the street. Accessible parking is also available. Greeters will help guide you to the Albemarle Street Entrance or the accessible entrance at the back of the building.

Good Friday

Friday, April 18 @ 6:00 PM
Location: Tabernacle Baptist Church
(Service will last approximately 1 hour)

We are honored to welcome Pine Street Baptist into our space for an experiential Good Friday service. Through storytelling, guided reflection, and quiet moments, we’ll consider the grief, confusion, and hope experienced by those who witnessed the crucifixion.

Please plan to eat prior to arriving or prepare for a later supper following the service.

Community Ministry

Saturday, April 19 @ 7:30 AM
Location: Tabernacle Baptist Church

Join us in serving our neighbors through tangible acts of care and presence — a living response to resurrection hope.

Egg Hunt & Cookout

Saturday, April 19 @ 5:00 PM
Location: Fiske Home

Celebrate new life with an evening of food, fellowship, and fun. Kids can enjoy an egg hunt, and all are welcome at the table.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be provided.
Please bring a side dish to share, and bring a picnic blanket or portable chairs for seating.

The egg hunt begins at 5pm sharp, so don’t be late.  Dinner will follow at 5:30pm. 
Contact a staff member or church leader for the Fiske’s home address.

Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 20
Location: Tabernacle Baptist Church

  • Easter Breakfast @ 9:00 AM
    Celebrate Resurrection morning with a warm, shared meal.
  • Easter Worship @ 11:00 AM
    Join us for a vibrant service of music, prayer, and proclamation. He is Risen! Together, we’ll celebrate the hope and new life found in the resurrection of Christ.
    All are invited to bring fresh flowers to adorn our Flower Cross — a beautiful tradition that symbolizes the transforming power of Easter morning.

As we move through this Holy Week together, may we find space for God’s voice, room for holy mystery, and hearts open to the grace that is always unfolding.

Sterling Severns Devotional, Devotionals, Lenten Devotion

The Invitation to Let Ourselves Be Loved

March 13, 2025 ( pages 41–46)

We spend years trying to earn love—or at least, something that feels like it. We wear masks, curating versions of ourselves to gain approval. We achieve, perform, shape our identities around what will make us worthy in the eyes of others. But beneath the surface, a quiet fear lingers:

If they see all of me, will I still belong?

Nadeau wrestles with this tension, reflecting on the ways he spent his life trying to secure love: through success, usefulness, becoming exactly what others needed him to be. He thought he understood love. He believed in it. He knew, intellectually, that God loved him. But there’s a difference between knowing something in your head and letting it reshape your heart.

And when the carefully constructed mask—the one that made sure he was respected, sought after, admired—began to crack, a deeper question emerged:

Am I loved, truly loved, apart from what I do, apart from what I present?

He’s not alone in this struggle.

I would imagine the rich young ruler and the woman at the well both carried a weight they could no longer hold. Both were isolated, but from opposite corners—one less obvious than the other.

The ruler approached Jesus full of confidence, certain that he had done everything right. He wanted confirmation, assurance that he was on the right track. Jesus looked at him—loved him—and invited him to be free (Matthew 19:16-22, MSG).

The woman came to the well alone, burdened by her past, expecting nothing but silence. But Jesus saw her completely, naming the truth she thought she had to hide—and inviting her into freedom (John 4:1-26, MSG).

She knew she needed to be free. He didn’t yet realize he was in a self-made cage.

One walked away, unwilling to release the life he had built. The other ran toward her village, proclaiming, “Come and see!”

Maybe the difference wasn’t in how much they had to let go. Maybe it was in how much they were willing to trust that they were already loved.

And that’s the great truth: Jesus knows who we are through and through—even the parts of ourselves we don’t yet acknowledge, even the parts we try to hide from the world. And still, we are fully cherished.

“People change when they are cherished.”

– Gregory Boyle

Not when they impress. Not when they get everything right. Not when they finally become the person they think they’re supposed to be.

We don’t transform by performing. We transform by surrendering to love.

Some of us have known what it is to be lost, only to realize we have been found. Others may still be searching, wondering if they ever will be. The invitation remains the same.

Let yourself be loved.

I Wonder…

  • I wonder how much of my life has been spent trying to earn love rather than receive it?
  • I wonder if I have mistaken admiration for belonging?
  • I wonder what it would feel like to be fully seen and still cherished?
  • I wonder where I am resisting love?
  • I wonder how God is inviting me to let go of the mask and step into freedom?

This Reflection is Part of a Lenten Journey

This Lent, we’re making space for something deeper—reading Room for Good Things to Run Wild by Josh Nadeau. No book club, no meetings—just a daily invitation to reflect, in whatever way feels right for you.

Learn more, access the reading calendar, and join the journey here: https://www.tbcrichmond.org/an-invitation-to-reflect-a-lenten-journey-together/

More about the book and author: https://a.co/d/45D382Y

Sterling Severns Devotional, Devotionals, Lenten Devotion

Get it together. Keep it together.

March 15, 2025 (Day 10, pages 55–58)

Get it together. Keep it together.

These two phrases are unrelenting. For so many of us, they hum beneath the surface, quietly and destructively applying pressure that has shaped far too many of our days. We tighten our grip, clench our jaw, convinced that if we just try harder, hold on a little longer, everything won’t come undone.

How much more of our precious time on this earth will we spend simply trying to hold everything together? As if survival is the goal. As if control is the prize. We convince ourselves it’s working—until the cracks form. Until what we thought was unshakable begins to shift beneath our feet.

“Faith demands renovation. Grace demolishes what will not sustain.”

Josh Nadeau, Room for Good Things to Run Wild

The ground is shifting, and we feel it.

Could it be that grace is already working its way in—not in spite of the cracks, but through them?

Could it be that what feels like falling apart is actually making space for something truer, something more whole?

Beneath all that crumbles, something unshakable remains.

Love remains. Grace remains. God remains.

Perhaps what’s coming undone was never meant to hold us in the first place.

I Wonder…

• I wonder what I’m gripping too tightly that grace is asking me to release?

• I wonder if I’ve mistaken holding it together for actually being whole?

• I wonder how I might recognize grace in the shifting ground beneath me?

• I wonder if the unraveling is actually an invitation?

• I wonder who I’m walking with—and who is walking with me—all the way home?

___________________________________________________

This Reflection is Part of a Lenten Journey

This Lent, we’re making space for something deeper—reading Room for Good Things to Run Wild by Josh Nadeau. No book club, no meetings—just a daily invitation to reflect, in whatever way feels right for you.

Learn more, access the reading calendar, and join the journey here:

An Invitation to Reflect: A Lenten Journey Together

More about the book and author: https://a.co/d/45D382Y

Sterling Severns Devotional, Lent, Lenten Devotion

Wonder Is Food, Not Fact

March 14, 2025 (Day 9, pages 51–54)

Jesus touches the eyes of the blind man. “What do you see?”

Awakening from darkness, the man rubs his eyes. His pupils attempt to make the adjustment. The people move like trees, blurred and unsteady. He’s exhilarated. He’s confused. His healing isn’t complete. And so Jesus touches him again. The pupils continue to adjust, the dimmer grows brighter, the clarity increases. The healing continues. (Mark 8:22-25)

I wonder what happened next?

What does it look like for someone who has been ignored, ostracized, left to the margins, to step back into the world as someone being made whole? His eyes in a constant state of adjustment, clear one moment and blurred again the next. Continual regeneration of sight to inevitable tears from wounds still in need of healing. The emotional pain that surfaced as he processed years of isolation, the ways his own community, maybe even his own family, had left him unseen.

I wonder if he was aware of the healing still unfolding—not in his eyes, but in his heart.

Healing and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin. It takes time to heal from the wounds others have inflicted. Maybe even longer to heal from the wounds we’ve inflicted on ourselves—and on others.

Nadeau experiences blindness in a different way—the kind that slowly takes hold over time. A loss of wonder. A dulling of love. A heart that, little by little, stopped being able to see.

He didn’t notice when his wonder started dimming—when the world lost its enchantment, when everything around him was reduced to function. What began as chasing understanding turned into stumbling, feeling his way through a world that no longer felt alive. He had spent years trying to grasp truth, trying to make sense of his place in the world, but the more he tried to pin everything down, the less he could see.”I had unwittingly built a world in which only what I could explain was real,” he confesses.

I had unwittingly built a world in which only what I could explain was real.

Josh Nadeau, Room for Good Things to Run Wild

And then, one night, Jesus allowed him to see again.

Sitting on a rooftop in the city, looking out over the skyline, the world widened before him. The same steady voice of unconditional love—the music too often drowned out by the noise—whispered in his ear, “See it with my eyes. What do you see?”

He saw the lights stretching into the distance. He saw how small he was, how vast the world was, how he didn’t have to make sense of everything all at once.

Healing takes time. So does seeing.

We have yet to learn we can’t survive without enchantment and that the loss of it is killing us.

He is being invited to feed wonder. Invited to be startled by beauty again. Invited to notice the holiness hidden in ordinary things.

Not all at once. But slowly. A second touch. A second chance.

______________________________

I Wonder…

I wonder where I’ve let cynicism rob me of joy?
I wonder if I’ve mistaken understanding for faith?
I wonder what I’ve stopped seeing clearly?
I wonder what happens when I stop demanding answers and start receiving?
I wonder what I need to step back from so I can see with new eyes?
I wonder who I would see if I looked in the mirror and saw myself through the eyes of Jesus?

______________________________

This Reflection is Part of a Lenten Journey

This Lent, we’re making space for something deeper—reading Room for Good Things to Run Wild by Josh Nadeau. No book club, no meetings—just a daily invitation to reflect, in whatever way feels right for you.

Learn more, access the reading calendar, and join the journey here:
https://www.tbcrichmond.org/an-invitation-to-reflect-a-lenten-journey-together/

More about the book and author:
https://a.co/d/45D382Y

Sterling Severns Devotional, Devotionals, Lenten Devotion

Starved Hearts

March 13, 2025 (Day 8, pages 46–50)

The math seems so simple.

Want less + feel less = ache less.

But if we aren’t careful, we’ll spend a lifetime working at a misidentified problem. If we think hunger is the problem, we try to eliminate it—starving ourselves of desire, convincing ourselves we don’t need, don’t long, don’t ache.

But the hunger was never the problem. So many of us have spent years numbing ourselves, filling the silence with noise, losing hours to (de)vices. And yet the longing remains. Not because something is missing, but because something real is calling us deeper.

C.S. Lewis called it “inconsolable longing”—a desire too deep for words, too persistent to ignore.

Henri Nouwen spoke of it as restlessness, the ache of a heart that hasn’t yet found its way home.

“Restless is our heart,” St. Augustine wrote, “until it comes to rest in Thee.”

In today’s reading, Nadeau faces his hunger head-on. The moment he stops numbing himself, the ache remains. He’s tempted to believe something is broken in him, that the hunger itself is a flaw.

The hunger isn’t the problem.

You aren’t a problem to be solved.

You are cherished and the longing of your heart is holy.

It’s calling you home.

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I Wonder…

  • I wonder where I’ve been numbing my hunger instead of listening to it?
  • I wonder how my desires might actually be leading me toward God?
  • I wonder where I’ve mistaken apathy for peace?
  • I wonder what it would look like to be honest about what I truly long for?
  • I wonder where God is inviting me to rest today?

____________________

This Reflection is Part of a Lenten Journey

This Lent, we’re making space for something deeper—reading Room for Good Things to Run Wild by Josh Nadeau. No book club, no meetings—just a daily invitation to reflect, in whatever way feels right for you.

Learn more, access the reading calendar, and join the journey here.

More about the book and author.